Mother Kacie Torres

Feb. 28, 2013

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 1:17 p.m.

1 of 4

Emma Torres, at two months, lays next to her older sister, Gabriela, who is 2. COURTESY OF KACIE TORRES

1 of 4

Emma Torres spent the first month of her life in an incubator due to heart complications. She is now fairing much better, and recently participated in the OC Heart Walk with her monther, Kacie Torres. COURTESY OF KACIE TORRES

1 of 4

Emma Torres spent the first month of her life in an incubator due to heart complications. She is now fairing much better, and recently participated in the OC Heart Walk with her monther, Kacie Torres. COURTESY OF KACIE TORRES

When Emma Torres came into this world, her first breaths were only possible because of CPR and a breathing tube. The newborn had a heart condition known as total anomalous pulmonary venous return that called for immediate surgery.

Emma remained on life support and in an incubator for nearly a month. After the umbilical cord was cut, Emma's mother, Kacie Torres, did not get to hold her daughter for nearly a month after giving birth.

Earlier this month, Kacie and Emma participated in the Orange County Heart Walk at Disneyland, which raised more than $1.6 million for heart and stroke research. The Tustin News caught up with Kacie Torres, a longtime Tustin resident, to ask her about the ordeal and to see how her daughter is faring.

Q.What was it like to give birth and then have your baby immediately taken to another hospital for surgery?

A. It was really hard because you want that connection with your baby when they're first born, but they took her away. You spend so much time with the baby inside you and you just want to cuddle up with them and see their face, but you can't. It was a weird feeling to leave the hospital without my baby.

Q.How long did you stay in the hospital?

A. I was begging the OB-GYN, 'Look, I'm fine. I can walk around.'" I wanted to be with my daughter so badly, and they understood that. So they let me go 12 hours after giving birth. There was so much stuff going on in my mind that if I was in pain, I didn't think about it because I was so focused on my daughter's situation.

Q.What were you thinking about while driving from Irvine to Children's Hospital Los Angeles?

A. I just wished that the traffic would be all gone. It was 6 o'clock rush hour, and I was just hoping I wouldn't get a bad phone call from my husband (who was already at the other hospital) on the way there. I had no clue what they were going to do to her. I was just hoping she would be able to make it through.

Q.How would you characterize those first few weeks that Emma was in an incubator?

A. I was nervous because there was a chance that she wouldn't make it. It was hard to explain to people without crying. I was nervous when we finally got to take her home because we were so used to having the nurses around. It was a huge responsibility that was now on us.

Q.How is Emma doing these days?

A. She has routine doctor appointments and may need another surgery if her body doesn't heal correctly after the first one. But otherwise, she's just like a normal baby. She's funny, smiling all the time and just wanting to play. Emma and her older sister, Gabriela, are so fun playing with each other.

User Agreement

Keep it civil and stay on topic. No profanity, vulgarity, racial
slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about
tragedies will be blocked. By posting your comment, you agree to
allow Orange County Register Communications, Inc. the right to
republish your name and comment in additional Register publications
without any notification or payment.